Bellagio Cup - day one

Ahh, the Bellagio. What a great structure they have. Plenty of chips to play with and only 5x90 minute levels.

After the 14 hours a day that the WSOP demands, this is heaven for players. So why does the Rio insist that players are put through such an unnecessary schedule? OK, it may encourage players to try and stay fit in order to cope, but should we really accept such a situation? I for one hope it doesn’t continue.

Anyway, back to the Bellagio and the $15K Bellagio Championship event. The night before I was due to play, I went along to the Rio to support my “adopted son“, Darren Grant in the main event. As it happens, he built his stack to over 1.4m, but eventually busted after turning top two pairs versus a turned straight. Great shame as the kid had played almost flawless poker for four days.

Anyway……the last super satellite had started back at the Bellagio. And though I knew it would probably go on to a 6.am finish, I still decided to play. With ten seats at stake, I looked to be in good shape. But with about fourteen remaining, the big stack decided to double up the four short-stacks with crap hands. But I guess that‘s how he become chip leader in the first place! In the end, mission was accomplished and I dashed home for three hours sleep. But since we would be done by nine that night, it was something I could live with. Try doing that at the Rio? And yet, that‘s what they sometimes expect.

Anyway…..

With 45K chips, I found difficult not to mess about during the first level. And by messing about, I mean playing “funny poker” by limping blind etc etc. It worked well and I built up to over 55K. The thing was, all I seemed to be doing was check-calling with winning hands against attempted bluffs - basically giving them rope to hang themselves with. But sometimes, it does go wrong.

Facing an early-position raise, I decided to just call the 300 raise with A-K from the BB. Continuing with “funny poker”, I made a blind bet before the flop of 200. The raiser decides to just call on a board of A-T-6 rainbow. Liking the flop, I bet 500 before the turn. I wasn’t really bothered by a second Ten that hit, even when I was re-raised a further 1500. As far as I was concerned, I still had the winning hand. I could of course come over the top, but what was the point? First of all, I could have been behind. Secondly, he could be drawing slim if he had a pocket pair or a gut-shot draw. I decided that the situation allowed for just a call, and the opportunity for him to make a major bluff move if he didn’t get there. As the odds dictated that he wouldn’t - I felt it was the right play.

When a King hit the river, I expected a big bet to follow my check. I was actually disappointed that he only bet 2500. To me, that was an indication that he wanted a call. I expected that if he was bluffing, the bet would have been closer to 5K. Yep, I was right, his J-Q had made a Broadway. Oh well, it goes like that sometimes. But I guess with only three outs in this spot, it was worth the gamble and the decision to entice a bluff.

Talking about bluffs, that’s how I managed to get down to 22K after a big draw failed to get there. It was in fact similar to the bluff at the WSOP, but my bet of 10K on the river was just not big enough. 20K would have worked. I should have known better really, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Undeterred, I continued in the same manner in level two. No more limping blind of course, just giving rope. For some reason, they kept accepting it and I slowly grew my stack back to 42K without any danger. I do like this style when the cards allow.

By the start of the final level, the stack was over 55K again. Three hands into the level, I was back to 40K. The hand itself still mystifies me and I don’t know if it was the right play or not, but I had little choice other than to muck my K-K on a board of 2-4-6 two hearts. After all, I did check-raise him almost 11K more. What could he have had to push all-in with 27K more? I could have said fck it and call, or I could have said it fck it and muck. Either way, fck it, lets move on.

I guess with blinds at 300-600, it’s only now that the game really begins. It beings with shouts of seat for one as the all-in’s increase. I can’t see myself getting in that spot today, but I don’t always control the size of the pots!

I hate J-J at best of times. This time, with just a few minutes before the end of the day and facing a re-raise before it gets to me on the BB, I like it even less. In fact, I am very much tempted to muck it. The only thing that stops me, is the re-raiser. The fact that he is on the SB, and I have position, is a strong factor. Secondly, the initial raise was from just behind the button, so the SB would not need that much to re-raise in the first place. Finally, the player himself. Not really sure about him. hasn’t played that many hands. But one hand did stick in my mind. I won’t bother with details, but it helped to convince me to call the 5200 bet.

With the initial raiser mucking as expected, position had been established. I felt better. I felt better still to see a flop of J-Q-8 rainbow. Even better followed as a 10K chip is thrown into the middle by the SB. I guess a scared min-raise is called for. Holding A-Q, the SB did not see the danger. My first double-up.

82,600 is the final count. I don’t think I will need to count that many sheep to sleep tonight.

Good night all.